Taking the agitation against the Centre a notch up, a 'jatha' of 111 farmers wearing black clothes started their fast-unto-death from Wednesday at Khanauri border in solidarity with their leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal whose indefinite strike entered day 51. The farmers have been staging protests against the Centre in support of their various demands.
Farmers Protest: 'Jatha' Of 111 Farmers Begin Fast-Unto-Death At Khanauri Border In Solidarity With Dallewal
Under the banner of SKM (Non-Political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha, the farmers, have been camping at the Shambhu and Khanauri border points between Punjab and Haryana since February 13 last year after their march to Delhi was stopped by security forces.
On Tuesday, addressing the media at the Khanauri protest site, farmer leader Abhimanyu Kohar told PTI that a group of 111 farmers would sit on a fast-unto-death from Wednesday at 2 pm.
Under the banner of SKM (Non-Political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha, the farmers, have been camping at the Shambhu and Khanauri border points between Punjab and Haryana since February 13 last year after their march to Delhi was stopped by security forces.
What are the farmers' demands?
Besides a legal guarantee on Minimum Support Price (MSP) for crops, the farmers are demanding a debt waiver, pension for farmers and farm labourers, no hike in the electricity tariff, withdrawal of police cases and "justice" for the victims of the 2021 Lakhimpur Kheri violence.
Reinstatement of the Land Acquisition Act, 2013, and compensation to the families of the farmers who died during a previous agitation in 2020-21 are also part of their demands.
Dallewal's fasting reaches 50th day
The protesting farmers have expressed concern over Dallewal's "deteriorating" health, saying the 70-year-old risks "multiple organ failure" because of the prolonged fasting.
Dallewal, who is the convener of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political), has been on the indefinite hunger strike at the Khanauri border point between Punjab and Haryana since November 26 last year. Dallewal so far has firmly refused to take any medical aid despite his prolonged fasting, which has caused his health to worsen.
According to the farmer leaders. Dallewal was having difficulty in drinking water as body is refusing water and is moving towards multi-organ failure. Earlier, it was told that Dallewal had not been eating anything and was just surviving on water. Doctors attending to Dallewal said his health is "deteriorating" every day as prolonged fasting has led to an increase in ketone bodies.
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Farmer attempts suicide at Shambhu border, dies at hospital
A 55-year-old farmer protesting at the Shambhu border allegedly committed suicide last week by consuming a poisonous substance. According to the farm leaders, this is second such incident at the agitation site within three weeks.
According to reports, Resham Singh, from Pahuwind in Tarn Taran district, took the extreme step at the site where farmers have been protesting for almost a year now, pressing the Centre guarantees Minimum Support Price (MSP) for crops. The protests are happening at the Shambhu border point between Punjab and Haryana
According to PTI Farmer leader Tejvir Singh said Resham Singh was upset with the Central government for not resolving the issues despite their protracted protest.
Rail Roko protest in Punjab
Back in December, train services in Punjab were affected as farmers squatted on rail tracks on Wednesday as part of their three-hour 'Rail Roko' protest to press the Centre into accepting their various demands, including a legally binding minimum support price for crops.
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The call for the 'rail roko' was given by the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha.
Protesting farmers blocked train routes at many places, including Moga, Faridkot, Kadian and Batala in Gurdaspur; Phillaur in Jalandhar; Tanda, Dasuya, Mahilpur in Hoshiarpur; Makhu, Talwandi Bhai in Ferozepur; Sahnewal in Ludhiana; Shambhu in Patiala; Mohali; Sunam and Lehra in Sangrur, Rampura Phul in Bathinda and Devidaspura in Amritsar.
The Humsafar Express from Jammu to Sealdah, Dadar Express from Amritsar to Mumbai and Shan-e-Punjab Express from New Delhi to Amritsar were halted at different platforms of the Ludhiana railway station.
The Shatabdi Express coming from New Delhi for Amritsar was halted at Khanna railway station.
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